It may resemble the seventh inning stretch as construction crews enter the latter part of the game to finish El Paso's new Downtown ballpark.

Crews could start working a nearly 24 hours/seven day a week schedule to complete the Triple-A baseball stadium, a city planner said Tuesday evening during a community meeting to update residents of the area.

"I can tell you it (the stadium) will be open in April," city planner Justin Bass told an audience of about 30 people at a meeting at the El Paso Scottish Rite Temple next to the ballpark.

Crews will continue working on some "smaller activities" even after the new stadium is "baseball ready" for El Paso Chihuahuas games, Bass said.

REPORTER

Daniel Borunda

Members of the city Engineering and Construction Management Department said it is up to the contractor to decide if crews will start working nearly round the clock as the targeted opening in April gets closer.

Bass said that work is currently taking place from about 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. with about 250 to 280 workers. The numbers of workers could reach of peak total of about 350 within the next month as shifts are added. The additional workers will not change the budget for the $64 million project, Bass said.

Bass said any loud construction work would take place during daytime. "I want to put your mind at ease," Bass told residents.

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The closure of traffic on a part of West Missouri Avenue and part of Durango Street has made it difficult for residents to get to theirs homes in the small Old San Francisco Historic District next to the ballpark.

Michael Waters, 62, lives on West Missouri Avenue next to the construction site and has concerns about noise. Despite the hassles, Waters said he "absolutely" supports the new ballpark and would like to see an Old San Francisco day at the park when the season begins.

"We have to make adjustments for progress," Waters said. "Unfortunately, our city is being besieged by construction everywhere."

City engineering officials said the construction phase for utilities, such as electricity and water service that tore up streets, has been finished at the park. Workers will next start building walls as the stadium continues to take shape.

Residents should prepare for more inconveniences because the next phase of construction includes street improvement around the ballpark. Street work could start in mid- February and is expected to continued until opening day.

The construction will lead to the closure of Missouri Avenue next to the park that is currently open to pedestrian traffic. Once finished, Missouri Avenue along the park will be a pedestrian friendly allowing one-way westbound vehicle traffic, Bass said.

During street work, drivers will still be able to use Santa Fe Street. Once complete, Santa Fe Street will continue to be two lanes in each direction but will have the middle turn lane removed, Bass said.

On the west side of the ballpark, the Durango Street bridge — which used to be two lanes in each direction — is now one lane in each direction with a pedestrian section connected to the Union Plaza District at the foot of the bridge.

"They need to be open by opening day," Bass said.

City officials said that steel work is expected to be finished this week. The final piece of steel was put into place Jan. 27 in a "topping off" ceremony.

The El Paso Chihuahuas are scheduled to start the first season on the road on April 3 with a four-game stand in Reno, Nev., followed by a four-game series against the Tacoma Rainers in Washington, according to the team's website. The Chihuahuas, an affiliate of the San Diego Padres, are scheduled to have its first game in El Paso on April 11 against the Reno Aces.

The second home stand is scheduled to start April 28 against the Fresno Grizzlies.

Ballpark neighbor Alex Torres, 45, was concerned that construction workers have been taking up public parking spots on the street used by residents. Once the ballpark opens, Torres fears that resident parking will be taken up by people going to the ballgame and restaurants and bars in Union Plaza.

"Those of us who live in San Francisco know they will park in our neighborhood," Torres said at the meeting.

Residents also asked that Sun Metro service to their neighborhood be improved because buses are sometimes late because of construction.

Martin Bartlett, spokesman for the city engineering department, said after the meeting that the city is researching ways to find a solution to parking and help residents. "There are a lot of moving parts," Bartlett said.